Description

'Utterly bewitching ... a pitch-perfect modern Gothic' AJ FINN, author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW

'Compelling, intelligent and increasingly mesmerising' PETER JAMES

'At once a homage to the Gothic thriller, and a re-imagining, it is goose-bump spooky, smart, and haunting, in every sense. I loved this book! And you will too' LOUISE PENNY

A dark story has been brought to terrifying life. Can the ending be rewritten in time?

Clare Cassidy is no stranger to tales of murder. As a literature teacher specialising in the Gothic writer R.M. Holland, she teaches a short course on them every year. Then Clare's life and work collide tragically when one of her colleagues is found dead, a line from an R.M. Holland story by her body. The investigating police detective is convinced the writer's works somehow hold the key to the case.

Not knowing who to trust, and afraid that the killer is someone she knows, Clare confides her darkest suspicions and fears about the case to her journal. Then one day she notices some other writing in the diary. Writing that isn't hers...show more

Review quote

This clever and entertaining novel has much to say about female rivalry, mothers and daughters, and the creation of fiction itself * Literary Review * A darkly funny, enjoyable mystery * Observer * An atmospheric coastal setting, more than a dash of the supernatural - a love letter to Gothic ficiton. Perfect winter read * Sunday Mirror * A splendidly creepy Gothic tale ... Cliffhangers and Gothic tropes abound * Guardian * The perfect page-turner for foggy, wintry evenings * Sun * Written with Griffiths's usual warmth and lightness of touch but has a genuine creepiness that gets under your skin * Sunday Express * A beautifully turned chiller * Mail on Sunday * A deviously plotted modern-day tale that's rooted in a flesh-creeping Victorian past. Elly Griffiths' clever and original murder mystery plays deliciously on the nerves and kept me guessing until the end -- Lesley Thomson, author of The Detective's Daughter series My heart is still pounding after finishing Elly Griffiths' The Stranger Diaries. As with her other books, this is fiercely intelligent, warm, human and at times, funny. The Stranger Diaries picks up where the great Gothic thrillers of the past leave off. At once a homage to that great literary form, and a re-imagining, it is goose-bump spooky, smart, and haunting, in every sense. I loved this book! And you will too -- Louise Penny Elly Griffiths writes with a sharp, smart eye and great elegance. This novel is compelling, intelligent and increasingly mesmerising -- Peter James Utterly bewitching. This atmospheric, intricate thriller, a pitch-perfect modern Gothic, chilled my blood and warmed my heart. As unforgettable as it is original -- AJ Finn, author of The Woman in the Window Great on character and suspense -- Val McDermidshow more

About Elly Griffiths

Elly Griffiths was born in London. She worked in publishing before becoming a full-time writer. Her bestselling series of Dr Ruth Galloway novels, featuring a forensic archaeologist, are set in Norfolk. The series has won the CWA Dagger in the Library, and has been shortlisted three times for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Her Stephens and Mephisto series is based in 1950s Brighton. She lives near Brighton with her husband, an archaeologist, and their two children.show more

Rating details

1,171 ratings

4.05 out of 5 stars

5
33% (390)

4
45% (524)

3
18% (208)

2
3% (35)

1
1% (14)

Book ratings by Goodreads

Goodreads is the world's largest site for readers with over 50 million reviews. We're featuring millions of their reader ratings on our book pages to help you find your new favourite book.
Close
X